Abstract
Digital transformation compels organizations to continuously reinvent themselves, moving beyond adaptation to proactively shape
markets through strategic innovation. While private firms have leveraged strategic innovations to influence market trajectories,
governments have traditionally been more risk-averse, favoring incremental changes. However, the COVID-19 pandemic
demonstrated that governments can engage in shaping-oriented strategic innovations even under high uncertainty and resource
scarcity. This study examines Denmark's proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an in-depth case study of the governmentled strategic innovation implementation process. The novel PCR testing solution shaped Denmark’s response, rapidly scaling its PCR testing capacity from approximately 3,000 daily tests in March 2020 to over 200,000 by March 2021, while securing supply chain inflow.
This study proposes a process-based framework identifying four key phases of this strategic innovation implementation process:
1) Radical Variation - generating novel ideas that challenge existing testing methodologies, mobilizing the steering committee, and synthesizing an alternate model;
2) Idealized Selection - mobilizing stakeholder commitment, developing scalable solutions and associated infrastructure, and synthesizing new capabilities;
3) Replication - scaling infrastructure, coordinating plan execution, and implementing quality assurance processes; and
4) Adaptation - identifying problems, branching out from the original process into an adjusted one, and coordinating adaptation.
Our study contributes to the literature by extending the concept of shaping-oriented strategic innovation to the public sector, demonstrating how governments - traditionally seen as reactive and constrained by bureaucracy - can proactively engage in strategic innovation to shape their environments. Second, we provide an evolutionary process perspective that encompasses the stages of radical variation idealized selection, replication, and adaptation. Third, we highlight the role of external and internal actors in the sensemaking process. Fourth, we offer evidence of how ongoing strategic actions are coordinated using flexible structures like board-like steering committees, as well as the role of digital resources in both scaling services and assisting coordination. We contribute to the existing literature on strategic innovation and offer practical implications for governments seeking to proactively shape future environments.
markets through strategic innovation. While private firms have leveraged strategic innovations to influence market trajectories,
governments have traditionally been more risk-averse, favoring incremental changes. However, the COVID-19 pandemic
demonstrated that governments can engage in shaping-oriented strategic innovations even under high uncertainty and resource
scarcity. This study examines Denmark's proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an in-depth case study of the governmentled strategic innovation implementation process. The novel PCR testing solution shaped Denmark’s response, rapidly scaling its PCR testing capacity from approximately 3,000 daily tests in March 2020 to over 200,000 by March 2021, while securing supply chain inflow.
This study proposes a process-based framework identifying four key phases of this strategic innovation implementation process:
1) Radical Variation - generating novel ideas that challenge existing testing methodologies, mobilizing the steering committee, and synthesizing an alternate model;
2) Idealized Selection - mobilizing stakeholder commitment, developing scalable solutions and associated infrastructure, and synthesizing new capabilities;
3) Replication - scaling infrastructure, coordinating plan execution, and implementing quality assurance processes; and
4) Adaptation - identifying problems, branching out from the original process into an adjusted one, and coordinating adaptation.
Our study contributes to the literature by extending the concept of shaping-oriented strategic innovation to the public sector, demonstrating how governments - traditionally seen as reactive and constrained by bureaucracy - can proactively engage in strategic innovation to shape their environments. Second, we provide an evolutionary process perspective that encompasses the stages of radical variation idealized selection, replication, and adaptation. Third, we highlight the role of external and internal actors in the sensemaking process. Fourth, we offer evidence of how ongoing strategic actions are coordinated using flexible structures like board-like steering committees, as well as the role of digital resources in both scaling services and assisting coordination. We contribute to the existing literature on strategic innovation and offer practical implications for governments seeking to proactively shape future environments.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Book of Abstracts : 11th International Conference on Business Servitization, November 7-8 2024 |
Editors | Emanuel Gomes, Leid Zejnilovic, Ferran Vendrell-Herrero |
Number of pages | 10 |
Place of Publication | Barcelona |
Publisher | OmniaScience |
Publication date | 2024 |
Pages | 289-298 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9788412813043 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Event | 8th International Conference on Business Servitization. ICBS 2019 - University of Deusto, San Sebastian, Spain Duration: 21 Nov 2019 → 22 Nov 2019 Conference number: 8 https://www.servitization.org/p/servitization-2019.html |
Conference
Conference | 8th International Conference on Business Servitization. ICBS 2019 |
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Number | 8 |
Location | University of Deusto |
Country/Territory | Spain |
City | San Sebastian |
Period | 21/11/2019 → 22/11/2019 |
Internet address |